srw

Hi, I follow this thread but haven't posted much, this coat discussion drew me out, I LOVE coats and have a ridiculous amount of them! I have been looking at the Costco coat, but haven't bought it yet. I really don't need it, but it is cute and fits well. The only problem is that the arms are too long so it would have to go to the tailor. There is a tab detail on the bottom of the sleeve so it will probably be a bit pricey to have shortened. I don't know if the cost would be worth it.

Booklady

I don't have a corporate job, but I say Hallelujah. I have a couple of pairs of the new flats, and they're so comfortable, even moreso than ballet flats. I think women's legs and feet will thank them if they move to lower heels.

Bromfield

In the last six months, I've ordered two items of clothing on-line (from Garnet Hill). Initially, I thought they were fine, but after wearing the items a few times, I decided that I really did't like them. I offered one item (a sweater) to my younger daughter, who took it. The other item is a coat. It wasn't super expensive ($200) but after wearing it a few times, I've decided that I hate it. It's a little too big and the shape is a little weird. The quality is poor--not my experience with clothes from GH. Is it acceptable to return an item like this? I don't even have the paperwork that came with the the order. It arrived about 2 weeks ago--I've probably worn the coat two or three times. Thinking I might call customer service and ask if I could return. Has anyone dealt with Garnet Hill on customer returns?

deb922

This is what I think Bromfield. There is no shame in asking. You should be able to bring up the order on your account on garnethill.com. I would call them and tell them that you are not happy with the quality of the coat. Could you return it? You don't know them. They can say no if they won't. But most retail places want you to be happy.

Others may say differently. I've worked retail and I've seen everything. What ever you do will be nothing compared to what some people do. The worst is the lady that returned her old bathing suits. They were nasty awful and she swam everyday. She found out that we wouldn't say no. She had no receipts and we had to go back years to look up the transactions.

Mom2M

I'd call and ask. The worst that could happen is you are in the same place you are now!

sewhappy

Bromfield, I have returned a ton of stuff to GH. If you go online and logon to your account they'll have your order history and you should be able to return the item for a refund.

Okay, then. This crazy thread got my outerwear engine running. I had to drive all the way to Short Hills Mall today and if you know New Jersey this is not for the faint of heart. I got there, processed the return I was making. And then found my wayward feet marching me fully against my will into Nordstrom, wherein I found myself heading directly (of course!) to the coat department and emerged with this --

Ellen Tracy Reversible Faux Persian Lamb Fur Coat (Nordstrom Exclusive) | Nordstrom

Now this is not extraordinarily well made but I consider it to be a very, very cunning coat. Reversible. Excellent cut, very slimming. Not too heavy so I won't mind wearing it when I'm driving a car. And just plain fun. Love it. Okay. Now hopefully the seasonal hunger will subside.

BunsenBurner

Here is my fashion revelation from my recent trip to Asia... Coming soon to a shoe store in your neck of the woods... the newest footwear craze - high top wedge sneaker. These shoes were flying off the store shelves in D's city and were worn by women of all ages. D was so happy that the Geox store had a single pair of their version in her size, 40 (I suspect that the only reason for the shoes still being there was the price, but what the heck -I bought her a pair, since it was Geox after all, not Aldo or Mango or Topshop). I was puzzled at first when D replied to my emails asking what she wanted me to bring by writing that she desperately needed high heeled boots (she has wide calves, and finding tall boots that fit is a real challenge), but then when I saw how fancily the local ladies dressed, I realized that D simply stood out of the crowd in her North Face fleece, bootcut jeans and Puma sneakers ("a white crow", as some locals would say). D also told me that her office managers*expected her to dress "appropriately", *which by local standards meant a dress or a suit/high heels combo during office hours and business trips, and trendy clothing for work-related casual outings (which meant said sneakers, skinny jeans and tops with sparkly accents, so I regretted not buying her the deeply discounted rhinestone-studded Juicy hoodie at the Rack, since I thought that it was not D's style).*

mom60

Bunsenburner- last month when I visited my D in China those sneakers were very popular. The other thing I noticed was the popularity of lace skirts and dresses. This to was a trend from baby to Grandma.
My D's employer expected her to wear face makeup. She also wore heals and panty hose.

eddieodessa

Hi Ladies - I have a question about what to wear with these shoes. I just purchased my first pair of red shoes. They are pretty much flats - maybe 1/2" heal and are sort of preppy - a small buckle on the outside, etc. I have been looking for red shoes forever in honor of LateToSchool, for those who remember her. Anyway, I figure I can wear these with dress slacks or jeans. But I don't know whether to wear some sort of thin trouser sock with them, maybe black stripe with my black slacks. Or should I always wear some sort of nude knee-high hose with them? I am so excited to wear them, but am having a "sock issue". Thank you to you ladies in the "know".

CountingDown

I have a pair of LTS shoes, too. I would tend to let the shoes stand out, so I'd wear black or nude. I probably wouldn't wear a black patterned sock unless it was very subtle, but that's just me.

Alumother

My daughter's revelation from her summer in Shanghai was that 5'9' redheads are still pretty rare over there.

And I say go with the patterned black trouser socks. They are under your trousers, after all.

worknprogress2

Like the Ellen Tracy coat! Looks very flattering.

I am more in the conservative trouser sock camp - but then again - I would have to see IRL.

roshke

Eddie, I think it depends on the specific shoe and socks you have in mind. If they are bright red and embellished, a pattern might very well be too much to add to all that. If they are darker or simple, a subtle pattern could certainly work. Solid black is always the classic choice. Nude knee highs are dated looking unless they are the kind that are so sheer that no one can tell you have them on.

I assume these don't have a very low vamp - those you wouldn't wear with visible socks.

sewhappy

A shawl is really not too good when you're stuck in the center seat on the airplane for five hours. I ended up wrapping it around my neck to mimic those inflated neck supports people use. Works better on Amtrak.

BunsenBurner

I'm sad that Nordie discontinued their cashmere wraps... They have been replaced with this wool/cashmere blend wrap, and it is not the same.

Nordstrom Tissue Weight Wool & Cashmere Wrap | Nordstrom

I'm hanging on to my old wraps!